Automatic gate for railroads



Oct. 8, 1929, M. J. HAND 1,730,972

AUTIATIC GATE FOR RAILROADS VFim Aug. 12, 1927 z sheets-sheet 1 Mic/1de] fila/2d @.,2 "1.1. f f,

ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1929. M. J. HAND AUTOMATIC GATE FOR RAILROADS eet 2 2 Sheets-Sh Filed Aug. 12, 1927 llllill DE 1Lq l INVENTOR BY /Wzcae/ J Hama 7g-amar Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- MICHAEL J'. HAND, OF NEW YORK, '.N. Y.

-; y Application led August 12, 1927. Serial No. 212,452.

This invention relates to a new and useful device in the nature of an automatic gatefor railroads, )articularly adapted for subways for the purpose of providing a gate, which will prevent people from falling onto the train tracks, said gate being operated, or lowered, by the approaching trains, so as to permit the people access to the trains.

rllhe object of the invention is to provide an automatic gate of novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated inthe accompany drawing.

Fig. 1 is an end elevational and part sectional View of a subway platform equipped with my improved automatic gates.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the gate proper.

Fig. 4 is a perspective fragmentary view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the operating roller showin side of a subway car.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a face view of a serrated lever for holding the said operating roller in iixed position, this view being taken as though looking along the line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view showing a modification. j

ln order to more fully explain my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, a subway station platform 10, the depressed or track portion 11, intermediate thereof. The ties l2 and 13, or sleepers are secured to the surface of the depressed portion 11, and have secured thereto,'in the usual manner the railroad tracks 14 and 15, upon which `the subway cars 16 and 17 are operated, in the usual manner.

As here embodied my improved automatic gate comprises upright members 18 and 19,v`

having secured thereto a plurality of longi tudinal members 20, so as to provide a gate. The guard rail 21, is secured to the supporting members 22, pivotally attached, as at 23, to one of the longitudinal members y20, and extends therefrom. The te n spring 24 g same attached to they is attached to the supporting member 22 and to one of rthe longitudinal members 20, p0- sitioned directly below the yfirst mentioned longitudinal member, so as to normally hold the guard rail 21 in a horizontal extended position. The latter described construction is such as will prevent people, waiting on the said platform l0` from coming too close to the edge of the platform.

rThe upright members 18 and 19 arepreferably of circular cross section, and are slidably mounted in the tubular members 25 and 26. The flanged members 27 are secured to the lower extremities of the tubular members 25 and 26, which are attached as at 28, by bolts, screws, or the like, to the horizontal portion 29, adjacent to the depressed portion 11, formed by removing or cutting away a portion of the platform 10, adjacent to the above mentioned train tracks.' The tubular members 25 and 26, are positioned upright, or vertically, and areL adapted to extend somewhat below the surface of the platform 10. The tubular members 25 and 26, are provided with longitudinal elongated apertures 30, so as to permit my improved gate to be lowered, the upright members telescoping the said tubular members. The expansion springs 31 are positioned in the tubular members 25 and 26, below the rupright members 18 and 19, which acts together with a suitable counterweight 31 so as to normally hold my improved gate in an upper or extended position, above the platform 10. f

Each of the upright members 18 and 19 are provided with depending rods 55, supporting at their lower ends the pistons 56 slidable in cylinders 57 having by-passes 58 adjustable by screws 59. The pistons 56 are formed with apertures 60, and discs 61 rest rfreely on top f of the pistons, and are slidable on rods 55, while cross-pins 62 in rods 55, limit the possible motion of discs 6l. lVithin cylinders 57 there is placed a suitable dash pot liquid 63.

The bar 32, or rail, has its extremities formed, bent or curved downwardly, as at 34.

The enjiiansion springs 85 are secured to the bar and to the brackets 36 attached to the mentioned longitudinal members 20.y

Ulti.

The bar 32, is posit-ioned at a relatively angular position to the said gate.

The roller l0 is rotatively mounted on thev shaft ell, provided with an enlarged extremity 42, having formed therein grooved recesses adapted to slidably engage the extended portions a3 and lf-l of the guide members 45, attached as at a6, by bolts, screws, or the like, to the side of the subway cars 16 and 17. rllhe expansion springs a7 and 4S are positioned above and below the enlarged extremity 42 of the shaft al and are mounted in the guide member i5, and are retained therein by the cap members 49 and 50, respectively, and attached to the upper and lower cap members, by means of the bolts 5l, screws, or the like. The latter described construction is such as Will permit the roller `i6, to be normally held in a free slidable position in the guide member d5. But as parts become Worn, it may be advantageous to fasten the rollers a() in certain positions in the guide members a5, and to this end the rear of the enlarged enf tremity 4-2 are serrated as at 65, and engageable by serrations 66 on levers 67 pivoted by pins 68 engaging lugs 6T on the levers and lugs 16 on the faces of the cars, and these levers 67 are swingably arranged in cavities 69 in the cars. Handles 70 project from the levers 67 and are securable in adjusted positions as by bolts 7l g determined by arcuate brackets 71 With slots 72,' the brackets being supported from the side of the cars. Y

I he above describen and set forth construction is suoli as Will permit the roller el() to engage or strike the bar 32, so as to lower my improved gate, when the said subivay cars enter the station so as to permit people Waiting on the platform to enter die said subway cars. rlfhe lowering of the gate is quickly effected, due to the apertures 60 in the pistons 56, While the rate is restrained from raising quickly under the influence of springs 3l and countervfeights 3l by discs 6l which close apertures 60, forcing the dash pot liquid 63 through by-passes 58. It vrill be understood that any number of my improved gates may be installed and that a suitable number of rollers may be attached to the side of the said subway cars.

In Fig. 8 I have shown bar 32 attached to the ear so that as the car approaches the gate, the said bar depresses rollers Q6 Which are suitably secured to the moving members of the gate, thereby causing the latter to descend.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

l. In an automatic gate, of the class decribed, a .rail secured to a gate by means of y.xoansion springs, said rail adapted to be enaged by rollers attached to tie side of subay cars, as a means of lowering the said ate.

In combination With an automatic gate of the class described, a roller rotatively mounted on a shaft slidably engaged in a guide member attached to the side of a sub- .vay car, expansion springs positioned above and beloiv the said shaft, and mounted in the said guide member.

8. In an automatic gate of the class described, upright members, longitudinal members secured thereto, so as to provide a gate, a guard rail pivotally. secured thereto, and normally held in a horizontal extended position by means of tension springs, said upright members slidably mounted in tubular members.

et. In an automatic gate of the class described, upright members, longitudinal members secured thereto, so as to provide a gate, a guard rail pivotally secured thereto, and normally held in a horizontally extended position by means of tension springs, said up right members slidably mounted in tubular members, expansion springs positioned in the said tubular members, so as to normally hold the said gate in an extended position.

5. In an automatic gate of the class described, tubular members adapted to slidably receive the upright members of a gate, expansion springs positioned in the said tubular members, so as to normally hold the said gate in an extended position, and an angularly positioned guide rail attached to the said gate by means of expansion springs.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination With a bar secured to a movable gate for lowering purposes, of a roller engageable With the bar, a shaft supporting the roller, and provided with an enlarged extremity, a guide member secured to a car, and slidabl'y supporting the enlarged extremity, serrations formed on the said enlarged extremity, ya lever pivotally mounted to the said car, and provided Witl serrations on one side engageable With said serrations, the said lever being swingable in a cavity in the said car, a handle projecting from the lever, and means for securing the handle in adjusted positions so that the said serrations either engage each other, or are free from each other.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bar secured to a movable gate for lowering purposes, of a roller engageable With the bar, a shaft supporting the roller, and provided With an enlarged extremity, a guide member secured to a ear, and slidably supporting the enlarged extremity, serrations formed on the said enlarged extremity, a lever pivotally mounted on the said car, and provided with serrations on one side engageable With said'serrations, the said lever being swingable in a cavity in the said car, a handle projecting from the lever, and means for securing the handle in adjusted positions so that the said serrations either engage each other, or are free from each other, said means including an arcuate bracket With a slot supported from the said car, and the handle being seeurable in adjusted positions as determined by the slot.

In testimony whereof I have aIiXed my signature.

MICHAEL J. HAND. 

